The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 377: An Imminent Danger On Set

Chapter 377: An Imminent Danger On Set

"Pardon me, my ladies and Sir knight, could I have a moment, please?"

Rafe quickly responded, "Oh, I’m not a knight. My name is Rafe Amares, and I’m a healer. Please address me as Mr Amares."

"Ah, forgive me for the mistake, Mr Amares," the man said.

"Who are you, and what do you wish to discuss?" Anna asked the disabled man.

Turning to the princess, the man introduced himself and explained, "My name is Beau, and I’m Mrs Bane’s worker. The flower that you put in your hair is from my father. However, there had been a mistake on the recipient."

"A mistake? What do you mean by that? Arissa, Mrs Bane’s daughter, gave it to me and said someone asked her to deliver it," Anna replied.

Beau bowed apologetically.

"Yes, my father did ask her to deliver the flower, but not to you. It was supposed to be for this lady," said Beau, gesturing towards Callis.

The Mederian Princess blinked in confusion.

"Me? Why me? I don’t even know your father!"

"Of course, you wouldn’t know him. You see, my father saw you the other day when I was delivering fish on behalf of Mrs Bane. He’s an old man, and I always take him with me since he needs someone to look after him. We came to Gantz for a better job opportunity, and I was fortunate to be hired by Mrs Bane. Since I’m already employed, my father hoped I would soon find a suitable maiden to be his daughter-in-law," said Beau.

"But I’m already married, and this is my husband! I’m the Mrs Amares now!" replied Callis as she placed a hand on Rafe’s arm.

The healer looked at Beau, a hint of dismay in his expression.

Beau quickly raised his hand.

"Don’t get me wrong! I’m not eyeing you, nor is my father. In our original place, it was a custom for parents to give flowers to their daughters as a symbol of prosperity. Since he doesn’t have any, he decided to give it to you because he admires your beauty. It was said to bring good luck for me."

Anna nodded in understanding.

"Ah, I see. Arissa must’ve mistaken me for Callis, then. She was a bit clumsy when we met. Of course, who wouldn’t be attracted to this gorgeous princess?" she teased Callis.

The Mederian Princess smiled at the banter.

"I think you’re pretty, too, Anna. We are not the same, but beauty is not defined only by looks. It’s the heart that counts, and in that sense, you are much more outstanding than I am," she said.

"I’m not saying Lady Raychard here is not pretty," Beau clarified, "It’s just a silly old man’s request, and he insisted I give it to Mrs Amares. I was too ashamed to ask you to give it to her when I saw you wearing the rose, but my father put his prayers on it, which meant a lot to him. Please forgive me for making such a nonsensical request."

"Don’t worry. I don’t mind at all," said Anna.

She gently took the flower from her hair and handed it to the Mederian Princess.

"Here, take it, Callis."

Callis smiled appreciatively but shook her head.

"The rose is beautiful, but I shouldn’t be putting flowers on my hair given by other men except my husband. He’s my soulmate and the only one with the right to adorn my hair. So, you can have it, Anna. Let it be a gift between friends," she said, knowing how much the princess adored the deep red rose.

Rafe couldn’t help but smile at his wife’s polite refusal. Her respect for him, unlike her usual stubborn nature, filled his heart with joy.

Anna looked thoughtful.

"But, wouldn’t it disappoint Mr Beau’s father’s desire?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

"The main thing is the wish for good luck for this gentleman. With your good and sincere heart, I’m sure his prayer will be answered quickly," Callis assured the princess.

"But... but..." Beau began to argue, but Rafe cut him off.

"My wife has made her decision, and I, too, believe it aligns with her custom," the healer said firmly.

He then turned to Callis, clasping her hand with his.

"You’re still tired and in need of rest. Since you don’t want to return to the chamber yet, let’s sit down again over there," he suggested.

Callis nodded cheerfully, and the couple left, leaving Beau and Anna alone.

Unbeknownst to them, Beau was actually Brone in disguise.

The Bargesian leader cursed inwardly. Without the flower in Callis’s hand, whom he and Derek had thought to be the Ro’an Princess, their plan would not come to pass.

Seeing the dumbfounded look on Beau’s face, Anna apologised and handed him the flower.

"Forgive me, but I feel it would be wrong for me to wear this flower, as it’s not intended for me. Perhaps you could ask your father to give it to someone else, though I do like this rose very much," she said with a hint of disappointment.

Brone, without a word, reached out to take the flower. Though he had failed to deliver it to Callis, he could try again to get it to her through a different method. The dark magic in the flower was still intact and able to be used.

However, as their fingers brushed upon contact, Brone suddenly felt a burning pain on his face.

"Ah! My face!" he gritted his teeth, struggling to swallow his scream.

Quickly, he turned around and rushed towards the nearby fountain, splashing the water on his face to wash away the burning sensation.

Anna watched, confusion written on her features.

"What’s the matter?" she asked.

Unable to remove the searing pain, Brone submerged his head into the fountain, desperate to find relief.

Kiev, who was watching, quickly approached and asked, "What happened?"

"I don’t know. He suddenly screamed in pain and behaved like that," said Anna, gesturing towards Brone.

The Bargesian leader lifted his head from the fountain after a moment. He panted as he caught his breath. The burning sensation was gone, and he steadied himself by gripping the fountain’s edge.

As he was about to turn, Brone noticed that his original face had returned, reflected by his distorted image on the water’s surface. He stared, bewildered by this sudden change.

Then, he remembered Derek’s warning - the stealth magic cast by the mage would lose its effect upon direct contact with the Ro’an descendant’s skin.

A huge, unexpected realisation hit Brone immediately, which he never anticipated.

"Are you all right?" Kiev’s voice from behind snapped him back to reality. The Mederian Prince was now just a few steps behind him.

Brone’s heart raced as he was caught in the situation. With his true face returned, he was now in grave danger.

One wrong move, and he would be immediately captured by the formidable Mederian Prince, who had once fought against his men in the woods. Worse still, the Knights of Gerhard would undoubtedly recognise him as well, and he won’t be spared.

In anxiousness, the Bargesian leader pulled up his hood to cover his face.

"I’m all right. I must’ve mistakenly eaten something wrong this morning. Forgive me, but I have to go!"

With that, Brone hurried away, leaving them behind.

"Wait! Your rose!" Anna called out, but he did not turn back.

"That’s strange... He obviously wanted the flower before," Anna muttered, puzzled.

"Do you know him?" asked Kiev.

"Not really. He’s one of the supplier’s workers here. I’ve never seen him before," Anna replied.

"Hmm... Why does his voice sound familiar..." the Mederian Prince mused quietly.

Beau’s voice, though slightly hoarse, felt oddly similar to someone. It teased at the edges of his recollection yet remained just out of reach.

"What is it?" the princess inquired, sensing the prince’s contemplation.

Kiev hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

"Ah, nothing! Are you going to throw away the flower?" he asked, changing the subject.

"That would be a waste for such a beautiful rose. Never mind, I’ll wear it for the day," Anna said, tucking the flower back into her ponytail.

At that moment, Eric, the second-in-command knight, approached.

"Did anything happen? I saw someone approaching just now," he enquired.

"Nothing of importance. Don’t worry about it," Kiev assured him.

"All right. My lady, are you still going to wear the armour?" Eric asked Anna.

Feeling challenged by the query, the princess responded, "Yes, I am. I’ll remove it after the training."

Though she felt tired from wearing the heavy armour, Anna didn’t want to lose face before the knights, as she had insisted on wearing it.

Aware of this, Eric opted for a demonstration of wielding the sword during today’s training, making Anna and the rest of the knights watch him instead of doing other activities. He intended to ensure the lady’s safety and prevent her from becoming overly tired.

"Very well, then. Let’s continue. I have a few more demos to show," Eric said, leading her back to their training session.

***

Kaizer Ronan gasped for breath as he reached the white sandy beach.

The longboats were tethered to the shore, their ropes secured to sturdy poles to prevent them from drifting away with the tide. Among the vessels, his gaze locked onto the familiar white boat that had ferried him from his main ship to this island.

Just as he was about to stride towards his intended vessel, a mocking voice sliced through the air, halting his steps, "Well... well... well... Who now runs like a coward?"

Turning swiftly, the king found Kyren standing ominously close behind him. A chill ran down his spine. How had this man managed to catch up with him so swiftly?

Kaizer drew his sword with trembling hands, poised to defend himself against the grand duke’s advance.

"Stay back, you fool! Keep your distance or face the consequences!" he bellowed, his voice edged with madness.

Undeterred, Kyren advanced with a sly smile, taunting, "Do you truly believe you have the mettle to harm me?"

The king’s throat went dry. Kyren’s presence visibly shook him. The memory of the grand duke’s formidable combat prowess loomed large in his mind, leaving him feeling powerless and enraged by his vulnerability.

"You’ve stripped me of everything! My gold mine! My armies! And now you seek Ardel!" Kaizer raged, his voice trembling with fury. "May the wrath of the heavens rain down upon you, Raychard!"

Kyren met his gaze with cold eyes, countering, "I did not take from you what you lost through your greed. Your people have turned against you, renouncing you as their king. How does it feel to taste betrayal, huh? You’ve sown these seeds yourself. What you reap now is a reflection of your actions, Kaizer."

Enraged by Kyren’s insolence, King Ronan clenched his jaw. The grand duke’s use of his given name signalled a blatant lack of respect for his sovereign authority.

"You cannot end me! I am a benovelent king! I’ve climbed to the pinnacle through my efforts! No one can thwart me, not even you!" he declared, a hint of arrogance lingering in his tone despite his mounting fear.

"Shut up!" Kyren’s voice thundered with disdain. "Your self-aggrandisement grates on my ears."

Unsheathing his blade with a resounding metallic rasp, the grand duke advanced purposefully, the glint of steel flashing as he closed in on Kaizer.

Gripping his sword with trembling hands, the king’s resolve faltered, and he stumbled backwards, eventually falling to the sandy ground.

"Please... spare me! I yield! I yield!" Kaizer cried out, terror gripping his heart. Discarding his sword, he raised both hands in surrender.

"Mercy! I am your elder, akin to a father! I... I am defenceless now! The gold mine, Ardel’s throne... take it all! They are yours! Spare my life!" he implored, clasping Kyren’s leg desperately.

The grand duke scoffed derisively.

"Moments ago, you were brimming with pride, and now you grovel at my feet, claiming you are as old as my father? How preposterous! If he were still alive, he would demand your head on a platter this instant!"

"No, please! Have pity! Show me mercy!" Kaizer pleaded, tears of dread glistening in his eyes.

Kyren’s kick sent the king sprawling, his body hitting the ground hard.

As Kaizer lay there, resigned to his impending fate, he braced himself for what he believed would be the final blow. Yet, the grand duke’s unexpected command jolted him back to reality.

"Rise and arm yourself!" Kyren’s voice cut through the tense air, commanding the king to stand and fight.

Bewildered, Kaizer opened his eyes in confusion and apprehension.

"Anna suffered greatly from your betrayal. Despite that, I owe you a strange debt of gratitude. Were it not for your actions, she and I would never have crossed paths and got married. Therefore, I offer you a chance at an honourable end through combat. Pick up your sword and face me!" Kyren’s directive was clear.

"But... but...." The king stammered, but the grand duke silenced him with a firm command.

"No excuses! While I still retain some semblance of patience, let us settle this once and for all with honour. This duel will serve as your final penance for the wrongs you inflicted upon my wife!"

Recognising the lack of options, Kaizer crawled towards his sword, grasping it tightly as he rose unsteadily to his feet.

With a swift movement, he flung a handful of sand towards Kyren’s face with his other hand, a desperate but futile attempt to gain an advantage. The grand duke sidestepped the attack as he had anticipated the move.

"I knew you would come up with such a childish ploy!" Kyren said after evading the sandy assault.

The king didn’t wait and launched himself into the fight, swinging his sword towards Kyren and shouting loudly, "Hiargh!!"

***

Athillia rose from her chair as the barrack door swung open, revealing Adam’s figure entering.

"What kept you so long?" she inquired, her anxiety melting away at the sight of the familiar face.

"I had matters to attend to per the commander’s instructions. Prepare yourself. We’re setting off for Ardel shortly," the admiral informed her.

"Was the negotiation successful then?" Athillia inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Of course! Not a single life was harmed during the process," Adam proudly confirmed.

"How remarkable! I wish I could have witnessed it firsthand. Yet, each time, you all kept me out of sight," she remarked, a hint of disappointment in her tone.

"It’s for your safety. The commander has emphasised that your security is of utmost priority as he has promised to protect you from any harm," Adam explained.

"Tchkk! It’s not like you and the knights couldn’t have protected me! I could have observed from a distance," she grumbled.

"It was a negotiation between two opposing forces, not a casual chat. Anything could have gone wrong. It was best to keep you safe," Adam clarified.

"Fine," Athillia acquiesced. "Now, where is Lord Kyren?" she inquired.

"He went after King Ronan, who fled to settle the score. Rest assured, he will return shortly," the admiral reassured her.

"With whom?" asked the princess.

"Just him alone," Adam confirmed.

"What? You let Lord Kyren go by himself? What if something happened to him at the hands of the king?" Athillia’s concern was palpable.

Adam chuckled.

"Oh, come on! That old man couldn’t lay a finger on our commander. I bet Lord Kyren is having a pleasure torturing him right now."

Despite the admiral’s confidence in the grand duke’s abilities, a shadow of worry lingered in the Bargesian Princess’s mind.

"I must go and see for myself. That sneaky king might have a trick or two up his sleeve. Lord Kyren could be in danger!"

"Stop fretting, Athillia. He will be fine! After all, he specifically ordered that no soldiers should follow him," Adam told her.

Unsatisfied, the Bargesian princess retorted, "Perhaps you’ve forgotten, Admiral. I am not a soldier, so that order does not bind me. I will go and ensure his safety!"

With determination, Athillia hurried towards the door, leaving Adam behind.

"You don’t even know where they went!" the admiral called after her.

"I’ll find them!" Athillia’s voice echoed as she slammed the barrack door shut.

Adam contemplated following her, but Kyren’s orders restrained him.

"D*mn it! Why is she so stubborn?" he cursed under his breath. "Just wait until the commander returns and scolds you!"

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